Some community members protested the change, especially during a budget crunch.

“Essentially it comes down to it’s a waste of money. It’s an affront to those of us who’ve graduated there and built our lives and our careers being very proud of the institution we graduated from,” said Jerry Keith, who graduated in the class of 1968. “And you’re destroying that community.”

The HISD board voted four in favor and three against the name change. Two trustees were absent, including Anna Eastman, who represents Reagan High.

Others applauded a new name as progress.

“Renaming Reagan High School is a platform to expand our understanding of the past, in order to transform into the globally inclusive high school that is in our future and our city is destined to be a part of,” said Deyadira Arrellano Trevino. She also graduated from Reagan and her son is zoned to attend high school there.

Changing names costs about $250,000 for each campus – or $2 million for all eight schools.

They all have to form a committee, explore options for new names and submit a recommendation to the district by May.

In other business, the HISD board decided to postpone a vote on a major budget shift that would change how it distributes money to campuses.

The board wants to gather more information as it tries to figure out how to bridge a $107 million deficit for next school year.

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Laura Isensee

Education Reporter

Laura Isensee covers education for Houston Public Media, including K-12 and higher education. Previously, she was a staff reporter at The Miami Herald and contributed to South Florida’s NPR affiliate. Her work has also appeared in The Dallas Morning News, Reuters and Clarín in Argentina. Laura has won awards for...